Full Name | Tank, Cruiser, Mk VI (A15 ) Crusader III |
Class | Heavy Vehicle |
Movement | 5 |
Armor Value | 3 |
Vs Infantry (RNG / FPR) | 5/6 |
Vs Vehicle (RNG / FPR) | 7/9 |
Traits | |
Period | Late 1942-1943 |
Theaters of Service |
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Commonwealth forces used this British cruiser tank extensively in the first phases of the North Africa campaign (mid-1941 through 1942). In British doctrine, the relatively lightly armored, quick (with top speed of 26 mph), and mobile cruiser tanks were intended to speed-through gaps in enemy defenses, and not slug it out with opposing tanks. The Mk III was an up-gunned variant of the Mk II with an Ordnance Quick-Firing (QF) 6-Pounder (57 mm; L/50) gun replacing the Mk II’s QF 2-pounder 40 mm gun; unlike the 2-pounder, Both armor-piercing and high-explosive, anti-personnel rounds were available for the 6-pounder. It also carried up to two 7.92 mm Besa machine guns. Three crew operated the Mk III. With the appearance of improved German tank variants--including the Pz. VI Tiger I--by late 1942, the British began replacing Crusaders with American-made M3 Grant and M4 Sherman medium tanks. The Nuffield Mechanizations and Aero Ltd. company produced more than 5,000 Crusader tanks in all variants, but they did not see active frontline service beyond the North African campaign. These stats reflect those represented in the 1A Games Tide of Iron Operations Card 'Crusader III' (A09).